Baling-press



(No Model.) 3 sheets-Sheen 1.

G. A. KEITH, BALING PRESS.

Emma ec.. 24, 1895.

3 sheets shee 2.

G. A. KEITH.

(No Model.)

BALING PRESS.

Patentedneo. 24, 1895.

INo. 551

UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. KEITH, OF SAGINAV, TEXAS.

sALme- SPECIFICALION forming'` part of Letters Patent-N.'551,7.71, dated December 274, 1895.

Application filed' November 14,1894. Serial No. 528,805. (No model.) l

.To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. KEITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Baling-Press, of which the following is a speciieation.

My invention relates to baling-presses, and has for its objects to ,provide a simple and eicient apparatus embodying a rebounding plunger; to provide means for regulating the resistance offered to the advance Inovemcnt of the forward head-block; to provide improved Ineans for tucking the material during the advance movement of the plunger; to provide means for regulating the length of `a bale; to provide means for automatically inserting a head-block when a bale of the desired length has been formed; and to provide means whereby the raising and lowering of the press-box or baling-chamber is accomplished by the draft-horses through the sweep, and without the use of jacks or other analogous devices.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a baling apparatus embodying my invention; showing the parts in their operative positions. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine, viewing it from the opposite side, showing the parts elevated by the supporting or carrying devices and ready for removal.` Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of the machine, showing it in its loweredor operative position. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the power or operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a 4similar view of the gage and block-feeding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is' a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig 2 to show the Y meansv for adjusting the front ends of the guides for the head-blocks. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the plunger detached. Fig. 8 is a similar View of the platform for su pporting the assistant who feeds the press. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the means for feeding the head-blocks. Fig. l() is a similar view of the gage apparatus. Fig. 11 is adetail transverse section on the line ll l1 of Fig. e. Fig. 1; is a detail plan view of the tumbling-gear.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- Ings. Y

1 designates a base-beam, at one end of which is arranged the power or operating mechanism 2, consisting of a master-gear 3, having its spindle arranged in a vertical position, and mounted at its upper and lower ends in bearings 4and 5 in the arms of a yoke 6, said yoke having a forwardlyextending clip 7 between the upper and -lower ears of which isjfulerumed 'the front axle 8. The hounds 9 of the tongue 10 are loosely connected to said axle. The spindle 11 of the master-gear, to which said gear is fixed by means of a transverse pin 12, extends above the upper arm of the yoke 6, and to the extremity thereof is fixed a bracket 13 at the inner end of the draft-sweep 1-1, said draftsweep having a tension or rod brace 15, which is fixed at one end to the outer end of the sweep by passing therethrough and forming a clip 16 and extends through the inner Iend of the sweep, and is engaged by a nut 17. y The bracket 13 is extended outward or from the sweep beyond the spindle 11 to form a bridge 18, provided at its outer end with a seat 19, in which the brace l5 lies. The brace acts as a truss-brace, and by tightening the nut 17 the tension thereof maybe adjusted as desired.

Arranged upon the other end of the basebeam is the press-box or baling-chamber 20, provided in its sides with front and rear sets of detents 2l and :22, the interval between the sets of detents being approximately equal to the thickness of a head-block 23, whereby when arranged in the chamber thehead-block will be held in proper position for operation until pressed forward by the advance move-- ment of the plunger, as will la more fullyexpla-ined hereinafter.

'lhe feed-opening 21 in the top of the baling-chamber communicates with a hopper 25, having a vertical front side and a rearwardlyinelined rear side, said front side being approximately over the forward set of detents 2l. A cross-bar 20 is provided at its extremities with perforations which receive the rearwardly-extending bolt-s 2i' upon the side walls of the baling-chamber, said bar being held upon said bolts, and being capable of forward IOO and rearward adjustment by means of nuts 28. A tension brace-rod 29 is provided at its rear end with a ring 3,0, which fits upon a sleeve 31 upon the upper side of the upper arm of the yoke 6 and is threaded at its front end, extends through a perforation 32 at the center of the transverse bar 26, and isengaged byanut 33, by whichthe tension of said brace may be adjusted.

3i represents a plunger to the body portion 35 of which is attached the front end of the stem 36, having a slotted lateral odset arm 37 bolted toits rear end, said arm terminating in a pin 38 which is arranged transversely in the slot 39 to close the rear end thereof.

Meshing with the master-gear 3, which receives rotary motion from the sweep-arm 14, 1s an elongated tumbling-gear i0, having parallel sides and rounded end" and being proranged in a threaded opening in a lateral pro- Pjecton 44 of the upper arm of the yoke 6L The guide-pin 43 is `adjustable by means of its threads to take up lost motion in the guidegroove. During the advance and swinging movements off the tumbling-gear this guidepin prevents premature lateral deflection, and holds the teeth of the tumbling-gear in operative relation with the teeth of the mastergear.

Attached at its front end to a hook 45 on the plunger-stem and at its rear end to a similar hook 46 which is swiveled upon the sleeve 31, rising from the upper arm of the yoke 6, is a return o1' rebounding spring47 to return the plunger to its initial' position after the completion of each advance movement. The hook 46 to which the rear end of the spring 47 isconneeted is engaged with the ring :50 at the rear end of the brace-rod 29. The plungerstem is guided in its forward and return movements by means of a keeper 48 provided with upper Vand lower antifriction-rollers 49, and the shock of the plunger as it reaches thc limit of its return movement, caused by the rebounding spring, is cushioned by means of the elastic bumpers or cushions 5() which are attached to the front side of the transverse bar 26, said plunger being provided with op'- posite rearwardly project-ing cheeks 5l to strike said cushions.

Mounted for vertical slidingmovement upon the body portion 35 of the plunger, and forminga part of said plunger, is a tucker-plate 52, having its rearend depressed or curved downward to facilitate the return or backward movement of the plunger and provided at its front en d with a vertical sliding plate 53 which is fitted between the checks'l with its side edges engaged in guide-grooves 54. Stoppins 55 arc threaded in perforations in the cheeks .51 and engage grooves 56 in the lateral edges of the guide-plate 53, whereby the upward movement of the tucker-platc is limited, and actuating-springs 57 are coiled upon guide-pins 5S depending from the tuckcr-plate and fitting in perforations 5S) in the door of the plunger, said springs bearing at their upper ends against the under surface of the tricher-plate, and al their lower ends against the upper surface of said Hoor.

The ground-wheels 6() are mounted upon the spindles (il of the crank-axle 62, said crank-axlc having a central offset portion U8 which is 1n ounred in bearings (it upon the upper side of the billing-chamber, 111e parallel arms G5 of the axle being arranged parallel with and adjacent to the side walls of the chamber. The length of the arms oi' the crank-axle, or the distance between its central fulcrunicd portion and the spindles which carry the wheels, is such that when said arms are in a vertica or approximatelyvertical position the bascbeam is elevated and the weight of the baling-chambcr and adjacent portion of the apparatus is supported by said wheels. In order to hold the axle in this position I employ a. bail o6, having its arms swiveled by means of rings 67 upon the spin dies of the axles and having a transverr e connccting portion (5S arranged between the, plunger-stem and the'base-beam. Fixed to the upper surface of the base-beam is a catchplate (if) provided at its extremities, respect` ively, with seats and l71 for the reecption of the transverse connecting portion 68 of the bail.V The portion of the catch-plate between said seats comprises a holding-plate 2 which is arranged in a plane correspon ding with the open upper sides of the seats 70 and 71, and secured to the under surface of the plungerstem is an auxiliary or movable seat 73 which .is adapted to receive the transverse connecting portion (58 of the bail and the open lower side of which is closed by the holding-plate 72 in passing thereover. W'hen the end of the bail is cngagedfin the stationary seat 70, the arms of the crank-axle arc inclined and allow the base-beam to descend and rest upon the surface of the ground, as shown in Figs. 1 and il, and when the end of the bail is engaged in the seat 71 the arms of the crankaxle are arranged in an approximately vertical position to hold the base-beam out of contact with the ground and thus adapt the machine for movement as in approaching or leaving thc place of use. In order to facilitate the adjustment of said parts, or raise and lower the apparatus without employing screw-jacks or similar devices, I provide the above-described auxiliary or movable scat 7 3 attached to the under side of the plungerstem. lf the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 2, and it is desired to lower the apparatus and thereby arrange it for operation, the sweep is turned sulliciently to bring the movable seat 73 over the seat T1. The bail is then elevated sufi'ciently to engage its transverse connecting portion U8 in the movable sea-t, and the sweep is further operated by the draft-horse .to move the bail without strain or jar to the posit-ion shown in Fig. .'l.

IOO

If the parts are in the positions shown in Fig.l I blocks at the proper intervals, I employ a 25, and it is desired to elevate the base-beam, the sweep is operated to bring the movable seat over the stationary seat and then the sweep is further advanced to carry the transverse connecting portion 68 toward the seat 71. During the movement of the auxiliary seat between one stationary seat and the other the transverse portion of the bail is held in the seat- 7 3 by means of the plate 72.

The forwardly-convergent cross-sectionally angular guides Hare secured at their rear Ult ends tothe angles ot"` the baling-chamber, and are connected at their front ends by tension-rods 75, fitting in perforations 76 in cars or enlargements 77 at the extremities of said guides, and coiled upon'said tension-rods ontside of the guides are springs 78 held in place by adjustingaiuts Tf), whereby the tension ot' the springs maybe adjusted to cause more or less resistance to the outward springing movement of the guides 7i as the bales are successively advanced therebetween. Antifrietion-rolls SO are mounted upon the tensionrods between the extremities of the guides to facilitate the passage therebetween ol' the bales as they are discharged.

ln connection with the above-described apparatus I employ a gage for determining and regulating the length of the bales, in order that they maybe ot' 'a uniform size, and said gage, in the construction illustrated, comprises a `gage wheel or ,disk Sl having a milled or serrated periphery` S2 and a spindle which is mounted in bearings in the sides of a swinging frame Si, said swinging frame being fulcru'med at its rear end to uprights S5, rising from the upper side of the balingchamber and held from descending below a horizontal position by means of stops S6 disposed upon the guides 74. lfpon inward extensions S7 of these stops rests the front end ot' a platform 8 adapted to support an assistant employed in feeding the press, the rear end of said platform being supported by legs Si) which rest upon the upper side of the baling-chambcr.

'lhe circumference of this gage wheel or disk corresponds with the length of the'proposed bale, and, as the lower portion of the periphery rests upon the upper side of the bale, one eompleterevolution of the wheel or disk indicates the lengtlrdesired and also indicates the time to insert alhead-block or folF lower to separate the preceding completed bale from the succeeding bale the construetion of which is abont to be commenced. The swinging frame which supports the gagewheel ordisk allows the latter to rise and fall to aeeommodale inequalities in the surface of the adjacent' side ot' the bale, and in order to' insure a positive pressure ot` the wheel or disk upon the bale l`have found it expedient to empio;Y spriligs ltl. L

In order to relieve the assistant of the responsibility of watching the gage wheel or disk and the labor of introducing the headfeeding device comprising a carrier 0l which operates in an opening in the front side of the hopper above a supporting-ledge 9:2'y and is provided with a sliding plate 93 which operates in a horizontal position t-o guide the carrier.

AProject-ing forwardly from this sliding plate is an arm 9J. which is arranged in the path of a project-ion 95 on the gage wheel or disk, said projection being adapted, as the wheel or disk is rotated, to engage the extremity of said arm and move the carrier to the rear. The normal position of the carrier is with its lower open side closed by the ledge 92, butv when said carrier is repressed by the contact of the projection or cam 95 with the extremity ot' the arm 94 said open side is moved beyond the ledge 92 and the head-block 23, which has been inserted from the outside and which normally occupies the position shown in Figs. l and 2, is allowed to drop vertically and assume a position between the advance detents 21 and the rear detents 22, as shown 'in Fig.3. Therefore when the compression of abale has progressed sutiicientl y to cause the gage 'wheel or disk to make one complete revolution the projection or cam carried thereby opa eratesthe head-block carrier, and while the hay or other material which is being baled is held from backward movement by the advance deten ts 2l the head is dropped from the carrier in rear of said detents 2l to separate the completed bale from the space below the hopper. Thus the feeding for kthe succeeding bale may be commenced without interruption and the completed bale is advanced between the guides until both ends are exposed for tyin The carrier 91 comprises a plate 9G which exactly tits the opening in the vertical front side of the hopper, a vertical keeper 97, and a horizontal keeper 98, said horizontal keeper being arranged, near the lower edge of lthe plate 96 and being connected at an intermediate point to the lower portion of the keeper 97. In order to return the carrier to its normal position after being operated by the projection or cam on the gage wheel or disk, I employ springs, and as the above-described springs 90 maybe utilized for this purpose without interfering with their function in connection with the frame Si they are attached at their rear ends to eyes tlf) upon the holding-plate 93. These springs hold the gage wheel or disk in contact with the upper side of a bale, and at the same time serve to return the head-block-carrier to its norm al position after the placement of each head-block.

From the above description relating to the operating mechanism it will be understood that the master-gear receives a uniform and positive rotary impulse from thc sweep and that the plunger-stem, guided by the keeper t8, hasa directly reciprocatorymovement, receiving motion at the limit ot' its forward movement from a rebounding spring to return it to its initial position. The mastergear is permanently in mesh with the tum- IOO bling-gear, and hence the latter, which is guided bythe pinil, receives alternately a linear and a' rotary movement, the linear move-' ment being caused when the master-gear is in engagement with the teeth on one of the parallel sides olf tbe tumbling-gear, and the rotary movement being the result when the master-gear is in mesh with the teeth at the rounded extremities ot the same. In other words, the tumbling-gear advances or moves toward the baling-ehamber when the mastergear is in ,engagement with the teeth upon either ot.' its parallel sides, and when the tumbling-gear reaches the limit of its forward movement the front extremity thereof swings rearwardly until its opposite side is in position for engagement by the master-gear. Obviously the swinging movement ot the tumbling-gear is accomplished at the limit of each forward movement oi the same, and the rotary movement merely accomplishes the reversal ot' the gear to cause the former front extremity thereoti' to become the 'rear extremity, whereby the forward motion ot' the tumbling-gear may be approximatelyv continuous. As the tumbling-gear advances it forces the plunger-stem forward in a direct line, and as the tumbling-gear turns at the limit of its forward movement the pin 38 at the extremity of the arm 37 carried by the plunger-stein remains stationary, the extremities of the slot in the tumbling-gear being concentric with the toothed extremities of the gear, and when the tumbling-gear has accomplished its rota-ry movement and is again in position for advance movement, with its slot parallel with the direction of movement of the plunger-stem, the plunger-stem is thrown back by its rebounding spring, the pin 38 passing quickly from the front to the rear end of the slot in the tumbling-gear in position to again receive the forward impulse caused by the meshing of the master-gear with the teeth upon the parallel sides ot' the tumbling-gear. rllhus without the use of trips, and hence without the jar and friction incidental to the use of trips and similar devices t`or releasing the plunger at the limit of its forward movement, l accomplish. the alternate advance and rebound of the plunger and secure a steady and uniform operation of the press. 'y

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or saerilicing any of the advantages of this invention.

slot in which the pin carried by said arm operates, substantially as specified.

i. The combination with a billing-chamber, and a plunger operating therein and having a return-spring, of a masteugear, means for imparting rotary motion thereto, a slotted arm fixed to the plunger-stein and having a terminal transverse-pin, and an elongated tumbling-gear meshing with the master-gear, arranged in a plane between the sides ol' the slot in said arm, and having a longitudinal slot in which operates the terminal-pin ot' the arm, substantially as' speciiied.

3. The combination with a baling-ehaml ver, and a plunger operating therein and' having a return-spring, of a master-gear, means t'or imparting rotarymotion thereto, an arm txed to the plunger-stem and having a terminal pin, an elongated tumblinggear meshing with the master-gear, and provided with a longitudinal slot in which operates the terminal-pin of said arm, and a fixed guidelpin en gaging a continuous guide-groove in the tumbling-gear, said groove being arranged parallel with the peripheral teeth ofthe tumblinggear, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a baling-chamber, and a plunger operating therein and having a return-spring, of a yoke having upper and lower arms, a master-gear having its spindle mounted in bearings in the arms of the yoke, means for imparting motion to the master gear, a slotted-arm ixed to the plunger-stein and provided with -a terminal-pin, an elonlOO gated parallel sided tumbling-gear meshing with the master-gear, arranged in the plane of the slotin said arm and longitudinally slotted to receive the pin carried bysaid arm,.and an adjustable guide-pin threaded in an opening in a lateral projection or' the upper arm of said yoke, and engaging a continuous guide-groove in the adjacent side of the tumbling-gear, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a base-beam, a

hailing-chamber'secured to 4one end of said beam, and a plunger operating 1n the baling- IIO chamber and having a stem, and a returib spring, of a yoke fixed tothe other end of the base-beam and having upper and lower arms `and oppositely extending-ears, a front axle pivotally mounted between said ears and carrying supporting-wheels, a spindle mounted inbearings in the arms of said yoke, a master-gear xed to said spindle between the arms of the yoke, a sweep-arm secured to the upper end of the spindle, atumbling-gear meshing with the masteng'ear and `provided'with a longitudinal slot, andan arm viixed to the plunger-stem and having a terminal-pin operating in the slotofthe tumbling-gear, substantially as specified.

l. The combination with a base-beam., a baling-ehamberl arranged at one end ofthe base-beam, and a vplunger operating vin the baling-chamber and having a stem and a return-spring, of a master-gear, an arm lixed to the plunger-stem and provided with a terL minal-pin, a tumbling-gear meshing with the master-gear and having a longitudinal slot for the reception of the terminalpin, a sweeparm secured by means of a bracket tothe spindle of the master-gear, a bridge formed as an extension of the bracket by which the arm is secured to the spindle of the mastergear, a brace-rod extending at its terminals through-the ends oi' the sweep-arm and at an intermediate point over the bridge, onel end of said rod being provided with an eye for the attachment of a Whiiiietree, anda nut-threaded upon the other end of said rod to regulate the tension ofthe latter,substantially as specified.

T. The combination with a base-beam, a balingchamber, and a plunger operating therein 'and having a stem and a returnspring, of a yoke, a master-gear having its spindle mounted in bearings in the yoke, a sweep-arm secured to the spindle of the master-gear, an arm fixed to the plunger-stem and having a terminal-pin, an elongated tumbling-gear meshing with the master-gear and having a longitudinal s lot for the terminal-pin, a transverse-bar arranged at the rear end of the baling-chamber and carrying cushions to relieve the shock of the plunger when it reaches the limit of its return movement, means for adjusting said bar, and a 'brace-red provided at one end with a ring engaging an extension ofthe yoke and adjust- A ably secured at the other end to the said transverse-bar, substantially as specified.l

S. The combination with a baling-chamber, a plunger operating therein and having a stem, and means for opera-ting the plunger, of ground-wheel spindles mounted for forward and rearward movement in an inclined direction, ground-wheels mounted unen said spindles, and means for temporarily connecting said spindles to the plunger-stem, whereby said spindles mayI7 be moved to raise or lower the baling-chamber bythe operation of the plunger-stem, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with abaling-chamber, a plunger operating therein and having a stem, an operating mechanism for the plunger, of ground-wheel spindles mounted to swing in an are of a circle, which descends toward one end, ground-Wheels mounted upon said spindles, a bail. connected to the spindles, and means for temporarily attaehingthe loose end of the bail to'the plunger-stem, substantially as `S iiecified.

10, The combination with a baling-chamber, a plunger operating therein and having a stem, and means for operating the plunger,

of ground-Wheel spindles mounted to swing in an arc of a circle, ground-wheels mounted upon said spindles, a bail having the terminals of its arms attached to the spindles and having a transverse-porti on arranged adjacent to the plunger-stem, a seat carried by the plunger-stem, to receive the transverseportion of the bail, and'means for locking the spindles in their adj usted positions, substantially as specified.

l1. The combination with avbaling-ehamber, a plunger operating therein, and means for imparting motion to the plunger, of

ground wheel spindles mounted for movement in an arc of a circle, ground-Wheels mounted upon said spindles, a bail connected to the spindles and having a transverse-portion arranged adjacent to the plunger-stem, spaced stationary seats for the reception of said transverse-portion of the bail, a movableseat carried by the plunger-stem and adapted to temporarily receive said transverse-portion of the bail, and a holding or guide-plate arranged between the station ary-seats to hold said transverse-portion in the movable-seat when passing from one stationary-seat to the other, substantially as specified.

l2. The combination with a baling-chamber, a plunger operating therein, and means for operating the plunger, of a crank-axle having a central-portion mounted in bearin gs on the baling chamber, parallel arms arranged contiguous to the sides of the balingchamber, and terminal laterally extending spindles, ground-Wheels mounted upon said spindles, a bail having its arm connected to.

the spindles and having a transverse-portion arranged below the plane of the plunger-stem, front and rearkstatmnary seats for the reception of said transverse-portion of the bail, said seats bein g connected by an 'interposed horizontal holding or guide-plate, and a movableseat secured to the under side of the plungerstein and having an open lower side closed by said holding or guide-plate in traversing the latter, substantially as specified.

13. The combina-tion with `a baling-chamber, of a plunger having a body-portion includin g side parallel cheeks, a er-plate having a depending guide plate fitted at its edges in guide-grooves in the inner surfaces of the cheeks, springs interposed between the tucker-plate and the body-portion of the plunger to normally hold said plate in its elevated position, and a limiting pin carried by the body-portion and engaging slots in said guideplate, and mea-ns for operating the plunger, substantially as specified. v

1i. The combination with a baling-ehamber, a plunger and operatin g connections, of a gage-wheel or disk adapted to bear at its periphery upon the surface of a bale, aheadblock carrier arranged in operative relation with the feed-opening of the chamber, and connections between said gage-wheel or disk and the carrier whereby a. head-block is discharged into the baling-chamber at intervals regulated by the gage-wheel o; disk, substantially as specified.

15. The combination with a baling-chamber, a plunger and operai ing connections, of a vertical head-block ca rrier mou nted to slide horizontally above a stationary ledge con- IOO IIO

tiguous to the feed-opening of the chamber I and having its lower open side normally closed by said ledge, and means for moving the carrier at intervals beyond said stationary ledge to release a head-block, said means including a gage-wheel and connections, substantially as specified.

1G. The combination with a baling-elialnber, a plunger and operating connections, of a head-block carrier having its open lower side normally closed by a ledge, agage-wheel or disk adapted to bear upon the surface of a bale and rotate by Contact therewith, and a projection or cam on said gage-Wheel or disk and adapted to engage an arm or projection of the carrier, said carrier having a return-spring, substantially as specified.

17. The combination with a baling-chamber, a plunger and operating connections, of a carrier normally arranged with its open lower side closed by a stationary ledge, a pivotal frame, a gage-Wheel or disk mounted upon said frame to bear against the surface of a bale, springs connecting the free end of said frame with the carrier and servingto hold the gage-wheel or disk in contact with the surface of a bale and at the same time hold said carrier in its normal position, and' a cani on'the wheel or disk to engage an arm of the carrier to move the latter out of oper" ative relation With the stationary ledge, substantially as speeied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presen-ce of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. KEI'IJI.

Witnesses J oHN H. Siemens, C. E. DoYLE. 

